Dante & the Evergreens
Encyclopedia
Dante & the Evergreens was an American pop group formed at Santa Monica College
in California
in 1959.
Dante & the Evergreens came to the attention of Dean Torrence (Jan & Dean), who took them to his managers, Herb Alpert
and Lou Adler
. The group's music was arranged by Tony Moon, who also played guitar on their records. The group hit the U.S. pop charts with the song "Alley Oop
", written by Dallas Frazier
. Their version of the tune hit #15 on the Billboard Hot 100
and went #1 on Cashbox; while The Hollywood Argyles
' version went to #1 on the Billboard charts, the Evergreens recording was a bigger hit on the East Coast. A follow-up single, "Time Machine", hit #73 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The group toured for several years after the successful singles. All of its members were white
, and the group became one of the first all-white acts to play at high-profile venues for black music
such as the New York Apollo Theatre
, the Philadelphia Uptown Theater
, and the Washington, D.C. Howard Theater. However, further chart success eluded them, and when group member Frank Rosenthal fell ill in 1964, the group disbanded. Rosenthal eventually returned to college, and Bill Young sought a career as a solo artist and actor. Donald Drowty - the group's "Dante" - later recorded as Dante and His Friends, and wrote and produced for Mellin Music Publishing. Among his credits are recordings by The Isley Brothers
, The McCoys
, and Herb Alpert
. Tony Moon, after the break-up of the group in 1962 moved to Nashville and become Brenda Lee's Conductor and Guitar Player for the next several years. After leaving the road he became a successful songwriter ( Several Awards), and one of only 2 writers in Nashvile to have a song released by The Beatles and Pearl Jam. Also produced three chart singlesby The Vogues ( 5 O'Clock World, etc). Later formed Crescent Moon Talent. Currently lives in Franklin Tn.
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica College is a two-year, public, junior college located in Santa Monica, California.Santa Monica College was first opened in 1929 as Santa Monica Junior College. Current enrollment is over 30,000 students in more than 90 fields of study...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1959.
Dante & the Evergreens came to the attention of Dean Torrence (Jan & Dean), who took them to his managers, Herb Alpert
Herb Alpert
Herbert "Herb" Alpert is an American musician most associated with the group variously known as Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass, or TJB. He is also a recording industry executive — he is the "A" of A&M Records...
and Lou Adler
Lou Adler
Lou Adler is an American record producer, manager, and director.-Life and career:Adler was born in Chicago, Illinois in December 1933, and raised in East Los Angeles. In 1964, Adler founded and co-owned Dunhill Records. He was President of the label as well as the chief record producer from 1964...
. The group's music was arranged by Tony Moon, who also played guitar on their records. The group hit the U.S. pop charts with the song "Alley Oop
Alley Oop (song)
"Alley Oop" is a song written by Dallas Frazier. The song, heavily inspired by the V. T. Hamlin-created comic strip of the same name, was first recorded by Frazier as a country tune in 1957.-The Hollywood Argyles:...
", written by Dallas Frazier
Dallas Frazier
Dallas Frazier is an American country musician and songwriter who had success in the 1950s and 60s.-Biography:Frazier was born in Spiro, Oklahoma but was raised in Bakersfield, California...
. Their version of the tune hit #15 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and went #1 on Cashbox; while The Hollywood Argyles
The Hollywood Argyles
The Hollywood Argyles were an American musical ensemble, assembled for studio recordings by the producer and songwriter Kim Fowley and his friend and fellow musician Gary Paxton...
' version went to #1 on the Billboard charts, the Evergreens recording was a bigger hit on the East Coast. A follow-up single, "Time Machine", hit #73 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The group toured for several years after the successful singles. All of its members were white
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
, and the group became one of the first all-white acts to play at high-profile venues for black music
African American music
African-American music is an umbrella term given to a range of musics and musical genres emerging from or influenced by the culture of African Americans, who have long constituted a large and significant ethnic minority of the population of the United States...
such as the New York Apollo Theatre
Apollo Theatre
The Apollo Theatre is a Grade II listed West End theatre, on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster. Designed by architect Lewin Sharp for owner Henry Lowenfield, and the fourth legitimate theatre to be constructed on the street, its doors opened on 21 February 1901 with the American...
, the Philadelphia Uptown Theater
Uptown Theater (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
The Uptown Theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, also known as Uptown Theater and Office Building, is an Art Deco building built in 1927. The Uptown Theater is located on 2240 N. Broad Street. It became a major venue on the chitlin circuit, from 1951-1978. It was listed on the National Register...
, and the Washington, D.C. Howard Theater. However, further chart success eluded them, and when group member Frank Rosenthal fell ill in 1964, the group disbanded. Rosenthal eventually returned to college, and Bill Young sought a career as a solo artist and actor. Donald Drowty - the group's "Dante" - later recorded as Dante and His Friends, and wrote and produced for Mellin Music Publishing. Among his credits are recordings by The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers are a highly influential, successful and long-running American music group consisting of different line-ups of six brothers, and a brother-in-law, Chris Jasper...
, The McCoys
The McCoys
The McCoys were a rock group that started in Union City, Indiana, in 1962.-Career:The original members, all from Union City, were guitarist Richard Zehringer , his brother Randy on drums, and bassist Dennis Kelly. This first line-up was known as The Rick Z Combo, and later known as Rick and the...
, and Herb Alpert
Herb Alpert
Herbert "Herb" Alpert is an American musician most associated with the group variously known as Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass, or TJB. He is also a recording industry executive — he is the "A" of A&M Records...
. Tony Moon, after the break-up of the group in 1962 moved to Nashville and become Brenda Lee's Conductor and Guitar Player for the next several years. After leaving the road he became a successful songwriter ( Several Awards), and one of only 2 writers in Nashvile to have a song released by The Beatles and Pearl Jam. Also produced three chart singlesby The Vogues ( 5 O'Clock World, etc). Later formed Crescent Moon Talent. Currently lives in Franklin Tn.